Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
They’d grabbed some clothes from her apartment, and a couple of her favorite books, plus stuff like her shampoo and her toothbrush, then they headed back to the Ranch. On the way, Wren filled her in about Rawhide Ranch and how it worked, and all of the incredible things the place offered, like classes for Littles, ageplay-themed playrooms, indoor and outdoor pools and playgrounds, and even an arcade and movie theater.
She couldn’t believe it wasn’t all a dream. A place for Littles. Like her, possibly? She wasn’t a hundred percent sure, but it was something she’d suspected for a long time. And now, maybe, she could find out if it was what she really wanted. Meanwhile, Wren had promised her that no matter what, Master Derek, as she’d learned he was most often called, would find a way to make sure she had a safe place, and her animals, too.
As they drove through the gates, Reese took in the view with a whole new perspective. The main lodge sat at the end of a long road flanked on either side by rolling hills and enormous trees. And as they pulled up in front, a woman dressed in an adorable lavender romper and her brown hair in two high pigtails with matching bows ran out to the wide front porch, pausing on the top step until they got out of the truck.
“Hi, Sadie!” Wren called out. “Come meet my friend Reese.”
Sadie ran down the stairs, clapping her hands, a big smile on her face. She ran right up to Reese, who was still pulling her full-to-bursting backpack out of Wren’s truck.
“Do you need any help with your stuff?” Sadie asked. “Is this all you brought? That’s okay, ‘cause we have a whole store here for Little stuff, and… oops! Sorry. My name’s Sadie and it’s so nice to meet you, and I kinda wanna hug you ‘cause Wren said you had a bad couple of days, but I don’t know if you’re a hugger kinda person, or… are you?”
“Sadie!” Wren scolded. “You’re gonna talk her ear off before she even gets to settle in.”
“It’s okay,” Reese told them both. “And I could probably use hugs right about now.”
Sadie stepped forward and wrapped her up in her arms. She smelled like strawberries.
“I will hug you every day if that’ll help,” Sadie said. “But c’mon—I’m s’posed to take you to talk with my Daddy, Master Derek. Did Wren tell you he’s my Daddy? She texted me to let me know she told you about the Ranch, but I wasn’t sure about that part.”
Reese couldn’t help but smile at Sadie’s friendly chatter. “She did mention it.”
“Follow me!” Sadie said as she hopped her way up the stairs.
Inside the lodge, Reese saw a huge fireplace, with what looked like a registration desk on one side next to a store with stuffies and toys and the cutest outfits she’d ever seen in the window. She followed Sadie to the right, past a small cafe, and Sadie knocked on a door that said “office”. When she opened the door and gestured for Wren and Reese to follow her inside, Reese’s stomach started to tumble. Everything was becoming really real suddenly, and she was so excited and nervous, she wasn’t sure how to feel.
Wren shut the door behind them and there was Master Derek, coming out from behind a big wood desk.
“Daddy, Daddy! Reese is here and she let me hug her, and I think we’re gonna be friends!” Sadie bounced up and down on her toes in front of him, until he put both hands on her shoulders and bent over her.
“Calm down, angel, let’s try to save some bouncing for later, okay?”
“Okay, Daddy. I’ll try my best.”
“I know you will.” He turned to Reese and Wren. “Hi there, Reese. I hope you were able to sleep okay out in the barn loft?”
“Yes, sir, I did. I was pretty tired.”
“I bet you were. Yesterday was a lot. Why don’t you have a seat, and we’ll see if we can get a few things figured out. Wren, Sadie, you two scamper off now. Reese and I will be done talking soon.”
“Yes, Daddy,” Sadie said, going up on her toes to get the tip of her nose kissed.
“Yes, Sir,” Wren said, sending Reese a wink and a smile before the two girls left, shutting the door behind them.
Master Derek turned back to Reese. “So, Wren has told me you realized you’ll need a new job so you can take care of yourself and your animals. How would you feel about coming to work here at the Ranch for a while? We can always use more help with the animals, and Wren says you can ride and care for the horses?”
“Yes, Sir. I’m probably not as good as Wren…”
“Now, darlin’, we don’t go comparing ourselves to others here. If she says you know how, then I feel comfortable trusting that. You definitely have a way with animals.”
His eyes twinkled as he said it, so she knew he was telling her the truth. And from everything Wren had told her, he always did. But it was a little mind-boggling to be in a place where she could actually trust everyone. It was going to take some time to wrap her head around that.
“Wren also promised me she would talk to you a bit about who we are and what we do here,” Master Derek continued, his brows raised in expectation.
“Yes, Sir. She told me on our drive.”
“Good, and how do you feel about all of that?” He relaxed back in his chair and steepled his fingers in front of him.
She didn’t really know how to talk about kink with a complete stranger, and her throat constricted as her heart pounded in her chest. “I… well I’ve read books about it and… how much do you want to know?”
“Only what you’re comfortable sharing right now. The biggest thing I need to make sure of is that you’re accepting and nonjudgmental of the lives our guests and residents choose to live. My number one priority is their safety and comfort.”
“Oh, no, Sir. I mean, yes, Sir. I mean”—she shook her head and took a deep breath—“I would never judge anyone. I have… umm, interests… I think. I just have never experienced… any of it.”
An understanding smile spread across his lips. “That’s okay, darlin’. I hear what you’re not saying. We have a lot of introductory classes and things you can attend to further your knowledge if you would like to. I’m also going to assign someone with a lot of Ranch experience to be your assistant.”
“I don’t need an assistant. I did it all myself on the Hutchinsons’ farm. I just…” she looked down at her tightly folded hands in her lap. “I don’t have any feed or supplies, or the money to get them.”
“Make me a list of what you need and we can put in an order. I have a supplier in Porter’s Corner, and he can usually deliver same day if we get the order in early enough. And I understand you have been doing it all on your own, but that doesn’t mean that’s how it should be. You’re also taking college courses?”
“Yes, Sir. The semester is over now, but I usually do some summer reading to make sure I’m prepared for the fall semester.”
“That’s even more reason for you to have help, but also, I would feel better if you had someone I can trust around you. Not because I don’t trust you, but because, like I said earlier, the safety and comfort of my guests and residents is paramount, and you might see or hear something surprising if you find yourself somewhere you’re not supposed to be. Having someone with you will make that less likely.”
Reese wiggled uncomfortably in her seat. “I don’t need a babysitter,” she mumbled.
Derek smiled kindly. “I’m sure you don’t, darlin’, but humor me, please.”
She couldn’t really argue. This man was giving her a safe haven. Not just her, but her and her animals. Who else on the planet would be so kind? And he wasn’t really requesting that much of her.
“Okay. Can it be Wren?” she asked hopefully. Having Wren around wouldn’t feel like being babysat at all. On the contrary, it would probably be fun.
“Wren can help, yes. But Wren is a Little and chooses to live here on the Ranch as such, as well as working in the stables. It wouldn’t be fair of me to heap more onto her. I was thinking more along the lines of Arlo. He is looking to lighten his physical exertion but has agreed to help out with you and the animals.”
Arlo? Did it have to be Arlo? He was so handsome and had such a strong presence. He kinda intimidated her.
“I thought he was retiring.”
Derek’s smile widened. “He told you that, did he?”
She nodded.
“Well, let’s just say he has decided to hold off on that. It’s not my business to share any more than that.”
Reese sighed deeply and dropped her chin to her chest. She really didn’t have the room to argue, and she really didn’t have any reason to.
“Reese, look at me, darlin’.” His voice was so deep and commanding, yet not at all intimidating.
She forced herself to obey and met his eyes with her own.
“Good girl. Thank you. I believe Arlo will be a good fit for what you need, but if at any time you decide my opinion is wrong, all you have to do is tell me and we can reassess. Okay?”
“Okay.” She nodded, feeling slightly better. “And you’re sure he wants to do this? I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Arlo is not the type of man who does things he doesn’t want to do. I’ll admit guilt in convincing him to want to stay on with us the last few years, but he let me. This was actually his idea.”
“Oh.”
His idea? What was she supposed to do with that?
“One more thing before you go.” He handed her a file folder. “This is the information packet all guests are required to fill out. I know you’re not a guest, but I think filling it out would be a good idea. It will also help give you some vocabulary to ask questions or have conversations about kink. The only thing I need right away is the non-disclosure agreement. Every person who steps foot on this property for anything more than a delivery is required to agree and sign.”
“Safety and comfort.” She nodded. “That makes sense. I’ll read it and sign it tonight.”
“That will be fine. First, I want you to get me that list of what you and your zoo need, and we will make that a priority. And one last thing before you go. We’re happy to have you all with us, Reese.”
“Thank you, Sir. Um, is it okay for me to ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Wren said you offered me a room here, but would it be okay for me to stay out in the barn? It’s super comfy in the loft, and I would really, really like to be close to my animals.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay out there? The bed was put in for when we had a sick animal, or a mare about to birth a foal. It’s not really set up for long-term use.”
“It’s plenty comfortable, I promise. And with the bathroom right downstairs, I won’t need anything other than to come up here for meals. Please, Sir?”
He sat quietly for a moment before he answered. “I can see it’s important to you, and since it’s springtime and not too cold out there, then yes, sure, you can stay in the barn loft.”
“Oh, thank you!”
She was so relieved, she wasn’t sure what else to say, so she sat there waiting, her fingers smoothing over the edge of the file he’d given her.
“Okay, darlin’. I think we’re all set. Just fill out the forms in that file when you can, and I’m always here if you need anything, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks again, Sir.”
After her conversation with Master Derek, Reese made her way back out to the barn. Her head was spinning with information, and she kind of wanted to curl into a ball with Stella and forget the world for a little bit, but that wasn’t an option just then. Especially when she entered the barn and was greeted with a group of unfamiliar faces.
“Hey, Reesey. We were waiting for you!” Wren said while Sadie bounced on her toes next to her. Wren gestured to a tall brunette. “I wanted to introduce you to our friends. This is Hayleigh.” Wren grabbed the hand of another girl with red hair almost the same shade as hers. “And this is Everly, and her Daddy is the sous chef, so he’s friends with Hayleigh’s Daddy, who is the head chef here at the Ranch.”
“Hi, Reese,” Everly said quietly, but she had a friendly smile.
“I’m so excited you came to stay with us and brought all of these new friends,” Hayleigh said. “Are they nice? Can we pet them?”
Reese’s stomach twisted with nerves. These were her animals and they had been through a lot in the last few days, and she wanted to protect them from anyone and anything that could potentially upset them. Not that any of the girls would hurt them, of course, but she just felt so deeply that their wellbeing was in her hands.
As if he could hear her thoughts, Bossy P flew out of nowhere and landed on her shoulder.
“I’m the boss,” he squawked.
Sadie and the other girls giggled.
“He’s been on the Ranch for less than twenty four hours and the Bigs are already rubbing off on him,” Wren teased.
“I used to tell the animals all the time that I was the boss when they would start getting fussy and demanding, and Bossy P picked it up, and now he thinks he’s in charge and… well… I kinda let him believe what he wants.” She rubbed the back of her index finger over the smooth feathers of his head and he leaned into her touch. “We’ve had a hard couple of days. The animals are very friendly, but I think they need time to settle in before I start introducing them to too many new people, if that’s okay.”
She was aware that she was kinda talking about herself, as well, but she was trying really hard not to be rude or unfriendly. She didn’t want people to not like her, especially the owner’s wife, and the chefs’ wives, too.
“Oh, that is totally understandable,” Hayleigh said as she and Sadie both nodded. “Animals can be very sensitive, and we wouldn’t want to do anything to stress them out. Maybe when you all get a little more comfortable you can introduce us?”
“Gladly.” Reese nodded, thankful that they seemed to understand and weren’t pushing the issue.
Sadie bounced. “Yay!”
A long low moo came from Stella’s stall and Hayleigh jumped and grabbed her chest like she’d been snuck up on by the boogeyman. Stella nudged the gate with her head, trying to get someone to pay attention to her and making a loud banging noise. Reese went to her.
“You don’t need to be afraid. This is Stella,” she told everyone. “Out of all the animals, she’s the one that’s probably the least stressed and would like your attention if you'd like to pet her.”
Stella loved attention any way she could get it. She loved being petted and told what a pretty girl she was. She loved to be brushed, and if she had it her way, she would be hand fed every meal. Reese definitely didn’t have that kind of time on her hands—there were a whole lot of animals that needed her care, but she did indulge the sweet cow once in a while.
“I’ll hang back,” Hayleigh said, taking a step away from the stall.
Wren rolled her eyes. “The cow is not going to murder you.”
“You don’t know that!” The girl Reese now knew as Hayleigh dramatically mock-whispered as she took another step backward. “What if it knows I had a cheeseburger for dinner last night and wants revenge?”
Wren laughed and shook her head. “You’re ridiculous,” she said while Everly just grinned and giggled.
“She’s a dairy cow, not a beef cow, and she can’t even make milk,” Reese explained. “I worked at the farm where she lived when she was young, and when she had her calf she didn’t make milk to feed it. The farmer said that made her worthless and he was going to have her put down, but I talked him into letting me have her. It’s a lot of money to have a big animal put down and disposed of, so I think he was almost grateful that I took her off his hands. I knew the Hutchinsons had a barn and asked them if I could keep her there, and after a lot of negotiations and promises on my part, they said yes. The rest is kinda history, I guess, but she was my very first rescue, so we’re bonded pretty tight. I think she knows what I did for her.”
Reese petted Stella reverently. She didn’t want to think about the past. It made her sad to think of the Hutchinsons, and it made her stomach twist to think of Ernie, but if she’d never gone to them, she wouldn’t have her animals. And if Ernie hadn’t been such a predatory asshole, she wouldn’t be at the Ranch, which was an amazing place where she felt like she’d made new friends already. Everything happened for a reason.
“That’s the sweetest story.” Hayleigh sniffed and swiped at her eyes. “I mean, I still don’t want to go near it, but it’s still a sweet story. And,” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “please don’t tell her about my Daddy’s burgers.”
They all laughed at her dramatics.
“Hayleigh’s Daddy-husband is Chef Connor. He’s in charge of most of the food stuff on the Ranch and he has the best recipes. He makes great burgers, and his mac and cheese is to die for,” Wren said.
Reese’s mouth watered and her stomach growled. “That sounds really yummy.”
“Come with us to the cafeteria for lunch,” Everly, the quietest girl of the group invited as she pet Stella.
“I’d like to. I have to do a few things around here, though. The animals need some stuff, so Master Derek told me to make a list, and I need to check in on them all and make sure they’re doing okay.”
“How about we help?” Sadie offered.
Hayleigh pulled a face and looked around. “I really like animals and I’ll help, but I don’t do poop.”
“I wouldn’t ask anyone to do poop,” Reese assured her, holding back a giggle. “Can you make the list if I call things out to you?” She pulled out her laptop and opened a fresh document.
“Oh def!”
The girls all worked together, making sure everyone had water and bedding, and getting food to the ones they could with the little bit Reese had grabbed to hold them over, plus some borrowed feed from other Ranch animals. It took a quarter of the time to finish the tasks than usual, and it was actually a lot of fun to work with other people. Not that she didn’t love her time with her animals, but more than once she’d wished they could actually talk back to her so she didn’t feel so alone.
“Oh my goodness!” Sadie stood up, cradling one of the bunnies in her arms. “I just got the most amazingest best idea that ever idea-ed. Reese, you said the animals are friendly, right? And that they love people? What if once you all get settled and stuff, what if this becomes like the Ranch petting zoo? I’ve always wanted a petting zoo, and the Littles would love it, and it would solve lotsa problems, because then you will have a job that benefits the Ranch, as well as the animals.”
Reese bit the side of her lip. “I… that sounds cool and all, but I’m running a rescue, not a zoo, and also, this is temporary. I’m not going to take advantage of this situation and just stay here forever.”
“Well, first off, no one thinks you’re taking advantage of anything. So please understand that. My Daddy may run this place, but he still gives me a lot of say about what happens here, and I think he would love this idea.”
“I really don’t know.”
“Okay, that’s okay. We don’t have to think long-term, but what about short-term? Would there be any reason you wouldn’t want to do the petting zoo thing?”
Reese looked around at the three other girls and her animals. She couldn’t think of any real reasons that didn’t sound ridiculous, so she shared honestly. “I just don’t want to feel like I’m exploiting them. They trust me to take care of them, and it’s not their fault we’re in this predicament.”
“It’s not your fault, either,” Wren interjected.
“Right, but they are my responsibility.” Reese sighed. The animals would probably love to be showered with love and attention and treats, and it really would make her feel like less of a freeloader if she was contributing to the Ranch as a whole and also able to take care of them. It really was a win-win. “You really think Master Derek would go for it?”
“Let’s go talk to him now.” Sadie linked her arm in Reese’s. “We can tell him we emailed the list and pitch the idea, and then we can get some lunch. It will be great, I promise.”
Wren dusted the hay off the front of her pants, “I think it sounds perfect. Let’s go.” She glanced around. “Where’s Hayleigh?”
The four of them stopped and looked around for a second.
“Hayleigh?” Wren called out.
“Over here!” There was a giggle in Hayleigh’s voice as her hand popped up and waved from one of the stalls. “The piggies like to have their snoots booped, look! Boop.”
They moved to the stall to see what their friend was up to, and sure enough, every time she touched one of the pigs’ snouts and made a boop-ing sound, they would snort at her and nuzzle their face against her.
“They’re usually a little bit choosey about who they like,” Reese mused.
“Well, they like me! Don’t you sweet piggies?” Hayleigh ducked down and hugged Wilbur.
In that moment Reese was convinced that pigs knew how to smile, because the look her precious piggie gave her as he was being hugged by this kind stranger was absolutely gleeful. Reese’s heart surged, and she tried to keep the tears at bay. For some reason that look completely validated everything she had just decided about the petting zoo, and a peace like no other washed through her.
Bossy P swooped down and landed on her shoulder. “Get the duck!” he yelled.
Reese turned to see Howard waddling around looking like he was lost. She scooped him up and put him back in the pen with his buddy Ryan Goosling, the goose, where they had filled a shallow water trough for them to splash around in.
“Thank you, P.” She gave him a little neck scratch.
The door to the barn slammed opened and Reese jumped and whirled around, grasping at her chest as pressure and fear took hold.
“Whoa!” Wren grabbed her when she almost fell over.
Her breath caught in her throat and she felt like she couldn’t get any air.
“What’s going on?” Arlo’s deep voice called out.
“I think she’s having a panic attack,” Sadie told him.
Arlo was at her side in a second, dropping the two buckets he was carrying and scooping her into his arms, then taking her to a hay bale that had been draped with a blanket. Setting her down, he knelt in front of her.
“Breathe, little one. Everything is going to be okay. You’re here at the Ranch and you’re safe. No one is going to hurt you here. Your animals are safe and you’re safe.”
Nodding, she tried to focus on his words as she gasped for air. “I-I-I’m s-s-sorry,” she forced out as she willed her heart to stop trying to pound out of her chest.
“Shh, no talking. Just breathe with me.” His hands on her thighs grounded her, and she locked eyes with him. “Good girl. In and out. Nice and easy.”
It took a few minutes, but she was able to get herself under control, and as soon as she realized what had happened, she wanted to crawl under a rock and escape from the world. “Oh my gosh, I’m so embarrassed.” She covered her face to hide.
“Embarrassed about what? A panic attack after you’ve been through some pretty traumatic experiences? Yeah, I don’t think that’s a valid reason to apologize,” Wren told her.
“I have to agree, little one. Do you know what triggered it?”
Reese willed the heat to leave her face, knowing without the shadow of a doubt that she was ten shades of red. “The door. The way it slammed open. It startled me and… yeah.” She trailed off not wanting to give away too much. She hadn’t told anyone but Wren the entire story, and she hadn’t planned to. She didn’t need anyone to feel sorrier for her than they already did.
“That’s my fault. That old door is pretty loose and it slams open with the slightest breeze. I was just bringing over some kitchen scraps for the hogs, and I had my hands full. I’m sorry about that. We’ll get that fixed so it doesn’t happen again, okay?”
“Okay.” Reese nodded because she really didn’t have the energy to say more.
“Okay,” Arlo answered in his deep voice, and with a tone that felt a lot more reassuring than any one word really should.
She looked up at him, and his blue eyes were focused on her face in a way that made her want to climb right into his arms and have him cradle her and whisper to her again that everything would be okay. She didn’t really understand it, so she sat up straighter and said, “I’m better now. Thanks.”
Arlo’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure? You still look a little pale. Why don’t we go up to the lodge and get some lunch in you.”
It wasn’t really a question, but she didn’t mind. She’d had to make all the decisions for herself her entire life; it was kinda nice to have someone else making them for once.
“Oh, that’s a great idea,” Wren said. “You do look a little pale. Sadie, we can go talk to your Daddy about the zoo while she eats, can’t we? And then I think I… I gotta go get some work done, anyway. And I think Hayleigh and Everly do, too. And Sadie, doesn’t your Daddy need you for… that thing today?”
“Oh, yes,” Sadie agreed, while the other girls looked perplexed. “Come on, everyone. We can come back to boop the pig’s nose later! Reese, we can go tell my Daddy our petting zoo idea while you get some food in you. We’ll let you know what he says, but I just know he’ll love the idea as much as we do!”